Thieves' Honor

Chipped Scales

The field had hundreds of tombstones lined in rows tight together, each headstone was uniform and shaped like a cross. The guildmaster kneeled at the last one. It was far back from the main road. Every grave had a flower. A gladiolus varying in shade; bringing a drop of color to the stormy day. He brushed the mud from the engraving with the sleeve of his drenched coat.

Addanc Rivers.

Ryu smiled remembering who lied under. He took the final flower and put it neatly down under the name.

The thief announced himself before coming close, "Tora said I would find you here.".

"I couldn't forget a holiday."

Ryu stood up in front of the grave and calmly turned. His golden hair was slicked down to his neck from the relentless downpour. His small braid in his short hair was tangled and coming loose.

Cacey admired the flowers, "Did you place all these?".

"Yeah. Had to make a few trips. Couldn't leave anyone behind.".

"That's nice." The thief cautiously looked around, "I wanted to talk to you. Somewhere safer. Preferably.".

"You don't need to be in a rush. The official ceremony this year was postponed from the weather." He scoffed, "Little water never hurt.".

Cacey wanted to complain about the rain. He was only out for a few minutes and his hair was soaked and his boots sponged up the mud puddles around him. If it didn't bother Ryu he'd fight through it.

His eyes fell to the grave. Quietly he asked, "Did you know him?" .

Ryu put his head down, his voice sounded happy, "He was my best friend for the year I knew him. I was the youngest one there so he'd watch after me. He ate the rats that ran around camp so I could have the rations. He never complained about anything."

His words became quieter, "The war took too much of a toll on his mind.".

"I'm sorry to hear that.".

"He wouldn't mind the weather.".

Silently Cacey stood as the rain continued. He didn't know what to say. He could ask the same of the hundreds of others. Who were they, if Ryu met them. He only heard of a few of them.

"Willow was cremated. So he is the only one not here that I know that died.".

Cacey's eyes widened, "They didn't give him a tombstone? Or did they take it because of the guild?".

"There is an empty gravestone in his family plot. Willow asked for me to give the ashes to my sister. He knew he was dying, his infection got too severe.".

"Why still build a tomb? There isn't anything there.".

"It's for remembering.".

"But it's empty!".

Ryu placed hand on Cacey's shoulder, speaking softly, "Don't you have one for Quinn?".

"Yeah." The thief moved his head away, "But I couldn't find him. I tried. It took months of trying! You die on the right side and you still can't get a headstone!".

"You don't need remains for a grave. Noor didn't even keep the ashes, she freed them in the river. Memory is what's important."

His anger subsided into sorrow. "But what if I forget?". Cacey took his mask off to rub his eyes. He held it in his arms, hugging it close.

"You won't. He's hard to forget.".

He nodded, drying his face. The tears and raindrops were inseparable rolling down his cheek.